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Note: Living in California. Was living in Poplar Bluff, MO Stella Mae Whittaker Stilley, age 75 of Poplar Bluff, MO, died May 15, 1998, at Baptist Memorial Hospital East in Memphis. Born September 17, 1922, in Walnut Ridge, she was the daughter of the late Thomas J. (Jeff) Whittaker of Walnut Ridge. She worked for the Bank of Poplar Bluff for 35 years from 1942 until she retired in 1977. She was member of the First Baptist Church and the Phebean Sunday School Class. Survivors include her husband, William Stilley, whom she married May 13, 1951; and nieces and nephews. Grave side service and burial were May 18 at 1:30 p.m. at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery with Rev. John Gilbert officiating. (Source: Times Dispatch Walnut Ridge, AR., May 27, 1998) A Recent donation to Walnut Ridge High School from a Poplar Bluff, MO man has sparked an interest in the history of WRHS. High School principal Randy Johnson said, William F. Stilley came in over Christmas break to donate several items that belonged to his late wife, Stella. She graduated from WRHS in 1940 as Stella Mae Whittaker. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Whittaker, she was the salutatorian of her class. She was also secretary of the senior class, secretary of the Commercial Club, an honorary member of the press Club and a member of the Pep Club. Included in the donated items was here pep Club jacket, her class ring, a school portrait, a graduation portrait, her high school diploma and a copy of the news article from the Times Dispatch announcing she would graduate as salutatorian. Johnson said the donation has created an interest in creating a display to show memorabilia of WRHS through the years. "If other people have items, we would like to do that," he said. He said he thought it would be a great benefit for alumni to be able to return and see memorabilia and for the current students to be able to see part of the school's past. (Source: The Times Dispatch Walnut Ridge, AR., January 13, 1999) Class of 1940: Included in some items recently donated to Walnut Ridge High School was Stella Mae Whittaker's diploma from 1940. The back page listed Whittaker's classmates. Eleanor Wade Riddick daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.K. Riddick, was the valedictorian and Whittaker was the salutatorian. CLASS ROLL: Edwin Lee Aumon, Jasper Berry, Tomazene Brust, Deane Coffey, Robert Lereal Cooper, Leland Thomas Copeland, Muriel olive Crumpton, Darlene DeArman, Billy Doss, Vera Madalyn Fender, Anna Mae Glenn, Bedford Lee Graham, James Robert Gray, Maxine Greggs, Darrell Hathcoat, Pauline Haulum, Mardelle holder, Billy Joe, Hurn, Margaret Sue Hurn. (Source: The Times Dispatch Walnut Ridge, AR., Jan 1999)
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